Steel Products Prices North America
US Steel Import Licenses Decline in April
Written by Laura Miller
May 5, 2023
Licenses to import steel into the US declined from March to April, with all major flat-rolled product categories showing month-on-month (MoM) declines, according to the latest figures from the Department of Commerce’s US Steel Import Monitor.
Import licenses totaled more than 2.292 million net tons in April. This was a 12% drop from March’s final import figure of almost 2.617 million tons and similar to February’s import level. April’s licenses were 16% lower than the 2.733 million tons imported in the same month of 2022.
Note that licenses provide a first look into import levels during a given month, but may differ from final figures.
The chart below highlights total imports on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis to more accurate display trends, as imports of semifinished steel can see large swings from month to month. The 3MMA was nearly 2.507 million tons through April license figures.
The 3MMA reached a 42-month high of 2.94 million tons in January 2022. November 2020 was the lowest 3MMA in SMU’s recent history at 1.36 million tons.
Licenses for finished steel imports, at 1.935 million tons, were flat from March and down 9% from the 2022 monthly average of 2.123 million tons.
Flat-rolled steel imports hit a two-year low in February at 724,399 tons, and then rose to a five-month high of 880,331 tons in March. April import licenses were 775,982 tons – just 7% above February’s low.
While all major flat-rolled categories saw import declines from March to April, cold rolled, galvanized and cut-to-length plate all saw double-digit MoM declines.
The chart below provides further detail into imports by product and highlights high-volume steel products.
Pipe and tube import licenses, at 555,699 tons in April, were down 8% MoM but were still higher than 2022’s monthly average of 493,538 tons.
April OCTG import licenses of 308,325 tons were comparable to the monthly average of 303,111 tons so far this year and are trending significantly above 2022’s monthly average of 219,742 tons.
You can use our interactive graphing tool, available here, to explore historical import data.
By Laura Miller, laura@steelmarketupdate.com
Laura Miller
Read more from Laura MillerLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
HRC-galvanized price gap edges higher
The premium galvanized coil carries over hot-rolled coil (HRC) coil has marginally widened in recent months. As of Sept. 16, the spread between these two products reached a three-month high of $175 per short ton (st), though it is still low by historical standards.
SMU Price Ranges: HR slips, hopes for Q4 rebound still standing
SMU’s price ranges were mixed again this week as the market continues to seek a floor amid industry hopes for a Q4 rebound.
Nucor’s hot band list price holds at $875/ton
Nucor held its hot-rolled coil list price flat again this week, according to its Monday, Sept. 15 consumer spot price (CSP) notice.
Market says cutting interest rates will spur stalled domestic plate demand
Market sources say demand for domestic plate refuses to budge despite stagnating prices.
SMU Price Ranges: Some predict bottom is near as big discounts dry up
Sheet prices were mixed this week as some mills continued to offer significant discounts to larger buyers while others have shifted toward being more disciplined, market participants said.